Introduction:
In this lesson you will be introduced to a variety of techniques which will assist you in using a user-centered (User Experience, UX) approach for the development of content for mobile applications. In this lesson you will develop an exciting idea, identify the needs and goals of the user and determine the real value of a user centered design approach with mobile applications.
Lesson Objectives:
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
Section #1:
1. Apply a variety of user-centered approaches to mobile application content design and a development idea.
Section #2
2. Recognize critical vocabulary and terms for user centered approaches to mobile development.
Section #3:
3. Conclude how mobile design influences the way information is shared amongst groups of targeted users.
Learning Sequence
Required Reading
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Read the following:
Section #2: A User-friendly Mobile Application to Promote Medication Adherence By: J.X. Tan, S. Chan, C.T. Lau
Mobile Design Concept Presentation Layout Outline For Assignment 3
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Resources
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View the following:
What the #$%@ is UX Design?
Succeeding Through Design
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Assignments
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Complete the following assignments:
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INSTRUCTION
Section #1: Introduction to User Created Content for Mobile Applications
This section prepares you to be able to address the central components of user centered design approaches and the identification of the needs and goals of the user. This section will also introduce you to the role marketing plays in the design of a mobile application.
This presentation does not really begin until slide 6. Please review each heading and read the slides and images related to the main theme. The presentation outlines the layers of the mobile experience.
- The Layers of the Mobile Experience (slide 6 and slide 17).
- Needs & Goals (slides 60, 61 and 64)
- Context (slides 72, 73, 77, 83, 84, 86, and 88)
- Types of Apps: Application Context (slides 110-121)
Section #2: Case Study Evaluation for User Centered Design
In this section of the lesson you will read a case study on user centered design for mobile application design. Strategies used by the developers of the application and the target their audience are specifically described based on the needs, wants and expectations of the user.
This is a research article related to the design of a mobile application based on the needs of a specific audience. The article “A User-Friendly Mobile Application to Promote Medication Adherence” will help you better understand the design process of a mobile application from the user’s perspective. The article breaks down the focus of the development of user content into sections based within the System Design, Graphical User Interface (GUI), Data Storage and System Implementation of the mobile application.
Section #3: Presenting the Project Concept
In this section you will review the components of a good mobile application project concept presentation.
This presentation outlines the process a corporate mobile development company uses to develop mobile application concepts for customers. The reading for this section has several areas which will help you prepare your concept for presentation. Focus your reading on these sections:
1) Proof of Concept Overview (pages 4-8)
2) App Styles (pages 9-13)
3) Devices & user interaction (pages 14-18)
Assignments
1. Short Essay: Using the key terms provided,
After viewing the slides in the Developing Mobile Experiences presentation you should understand that an essential part of developing a mobile application idea is the concept of how the user will interact with the device in real time.
How would you apply your new knowledge of the importance of user experience (UX) to create an idea for a mobile application? Write a five paragraph response which details the importance of the rules (#1-7) in the presentation and also outlines the answer to: Why is user centered/experience design is critical to the design of a mobile application?
2. Defining User Interaction
The focus of the reading for this lesson is the targeting of the design for the users and a clear understanding of how the technologies are meeting the needs of the user. The results of this research also allow you to better understand the necessity of targeting your design. Define each term listed and interpret how each term listed influenced the user engagement with the application.
Terms to Define:
System Design
Graphical User Interface (GUI)
Data Storage
System Implementation
3. Short Presentation
Create a final presentation of concept. Present your application concept to the class using PowerPoint, Prezi or other presentation software. This presentation should identify the purpose of the application and describe the strategy, technology engagement, targeted demographics and reasoning for entering the market. The design should take into account all discussed components related to user centered design (content, context, user, interactivity and engagement).
Explain what will keep users engaged with the application and under what “context” the app will be used. Be thorough about describing content and the description of the user demographics.
Required Concept Presentation Slides:
Use the following headings for each new slide in your presentation. The content of each slide is up to you to design, but keep in mind to be clear, concise and targeted in the information you present about your application.
- Title Slide
- Concept
- Users
- Technology Engagement
- Context
- Marketing Strategy
SUMMARY
You are being introduced to the concept of User-Centered design in which the design relies heavily on the needs and wants of the user throughout the design process. You must also be engaged with the idea of context. Mobile users are not captive like computer users are they must be engaged by content driven by the scenarios and context of their lives. It is important that you identify the difference in designing for the mobile user and the needs of that user.
Successful mobile applications solve problems for users and to design a mobile application, the designer must understand the problem needing a solution and design a solution that is intuitive to use. Please keep the following terms in mind about designing for the user:
- Context
- User Interface
- Mobile Application Types (Immersive, Games, Utility, Productivity)
- Content
- Integrated Technology
